The original dried specimen of Xylomelum pyriforme, Sydney Parkinson’s field sketch and contemporary notebooks

A finished print of Plate 275 Xylomelum pyriforme being pulled off the press

Master printer Edward Egerton-Williams

On his return to London in 1771, Banks determined to publish a grand scientific record of his botanical collection. Over thirteen years, while Daniel Solander prepared the accompanying botanical texts, Banks employed five artists to complete the field sketches drawn on board ship from the fresh specimens by Sydney Parkinson, and eighteen engravers to create exquisite copper plate line engravings from the drawings. All of the plants included for publication were new to European botany.

By 1784 all of the plates had been completed but, for a variety of reasons, Banks delayed publication.

On his death in 1820, having served as President of the Royal Society for forty years and recognized as the great panjandrum of European science, Banks bequeathed his library and herbarium, together with the Florilegium plates, to the British Museum. A hundred and sixty years later the unpublished plates were to be found, encased in their eighteenth century wrappers, in a cupboard in the Botany Library of the Natural History Museum in London.

The engravings were printed and published for the first time in colour between 1980 and 1990 by Alecto Historical Editions, in association with the British Museum (Natural History), in an edition limited to one hundred sets numbered 1/100 to 100/100, with ten sets Hors Commerce numbered I/X to X/X. In addition, there were three Exhibition Sets numbered EP 1/3 to EP 3/3 and three sets of Printers’ Proofs numbered PP 1/3 to PP 3/3.

On his return to London in 1771, Banks determined to publish a grand scientific record of his botanical collection. Over thirteen years, while Daniel Solander prepared the accompanying botanical texts, Banks employed five artists to complete the field sketches drawn on board ship from the fresh specimens by Sydney Parkinson, and eighteen engravers to create exquisite copper plate line engravings from the drawings. All of the plants included for publication were new to European botany.

By 1784 all of the plates had been completed but, for a variety of reasons, Banks delayed publication.

On his death in 1820, having served as President of the Royal Society for forty years and recognized as the great panjandrum of European science, Banks bequeathed his library and herbarium, together with the Florilegium plates, to the British Museum. A hundred and sixty years later the unpublished plates were to be found, encased in their eighteenth century wrappers, in a cupboard in the Botany Library of the Natural History Museum in London.

The engravings were printed and published for the first time in colour between 1980 and 1990 by Alecto Historical Editions, in association with the British Museum (Natural History), in an edition limited to one hundred sets numbered 1/100 to 100/100, with ten sets Hors Commerce numbered I/X to X/X. In addition, there were three Exhibition Sets numbered EP 1/3 to EP 3/3 and three sets of Printers’ Proofs numbered PP 1/3 to PP 3/3.

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

The Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) have undertaken not to allow any new printing from the plates before 2040.

The edition was fully subscribed, but a limited number of individual prints from the Exhibition Sets are available for purchase.

Some images are out of stock and there are never more than three prints of any particular plate. All orders will be taken on a strictly first come, first served basis.

One complete Hors Commerce set of Banks’ Florilegium, comprising all 743 plates in 35 Parts is also available. Please contact us for details.

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

The Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) have undertaken not to allow any new printing from the plates before 2040.

The edition was fully subscribed, but a limited number of individual prints from the Exhibition Sets are available for purchase.

Some images are out of stock and there are never more than three prints of any particular plate. All orders will be taken on a strictly first come, first served basis.

One complete Hors Commerce set of Banks’ Florilegium, comprising all 743 plates in 35 Parts is also available. Please contact us for details.